Gretchen Carlson Net Worth

Gretchen Carlson is an American television host, journalist, author, and workplace-advocacy leader who has a net worth of $18 million. She is best known for her work at Fox News, where she co-hosted “Fox & Friends” and later hosted “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson.” She previously worked at CBS News as a co-anchor of the Saturday edition of “The Early Show.”

Carlson built her television career after gaining national attention as Miss America 1989. She worked for several local television stations before moving into national broadcasting, eventually becoming one of the most recognizable female anchors on cable news.

Her career changed significantly in 2016 when she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against then-Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. The case resulted in a reported $20 million settlement with 21st Century Fox and a public apology. Carlson’s lawsuit prompted numerous other women to come forward with allegations against Ailes and became an important early development in the broader #MeToo movement.

Gretchen Carlson Net Worth	$18 Million
Date of Birth	June 21, 1966
Place of Birth	Anoka, Minnesota

Gretchen Carlson Salary

Gretchen Carlson’s annual salary has been estimated at approximately $1.5 million during her television career.

Her most prominent television earnings came during her years at Fox News. Carlson joined the network in 2006 and eventually became a co-host of “Fox & Friends,” one of the network’s flagship morning programs. She later received her own show, “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson.”

Her reported $18 million net worth reflects income accumulated through television, her settlement with 21st Century Fox, book sales, speaking engagements and other professional activities.

Early Life

Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson was born on June 21, 1966, in Anoka, Minnesota. She grew up in a family with deep ties to the automotive business. Her father, Lee Carlson, was president of Main Motor Sales Co., a Minnesota car dealership that had been owned by the Carlson family since 1919. Her mother, Karen Carlson, was a homemaker and teacher who later became chief executive of the family dealership.

Carlson developed exceptional musical ability at a young age and became a talented violinist. She studied at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and the Juilliard School of Music in New York. She also performed with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony during her teenage years.

After graduating from Anoka High School, Carlson attended Stanford University. She studied organizational behavior and graduated in 1990.

Her public profile grew considerably before she entered national television. In 1988, Carlson won the Miss Minnesota title. She went on to win the Miss America 1989 competition, becoming the first classical violinist to win the national title.

Early Television Career

Carlson’s broadcasting career began in local television after her Miss America victory. She worked at WRIC-TV, an ABC affiliate in Richmond, Virginia, where she served as a co-anchor and political commentator.

She later moved to Cincinnati and joined WCPO-TV. Her television career also included work in Cleveland and the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

Carlson eventually moved into national television. In 2000, she became a national correspondent, marking an important step in her transition from local news to network broadcasting.

In 2002, she joined CBS News as co-anchor of the Saturday edition of “The Early Show,” working alongside Russ Mitchell. Her position at CBS gave her greater national visibility and helped establish her as a prominent television journalist.

Fox News Career

Carlson joined Fox News in 2006. She initially worked as a weekend substitute host on “Fox & Friends” before becoming one of the program’s regular co-hosts.

She joined the main “Fox & Friends” lineup alongside Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade. The program became an important platform for Carlson, giving her a daily national audience and establishing her as one of Fox News’ most recognizable female personalities.

Carlson remained with “Fox & Friends” for several years before leaving the program in 2013. She subsequently received her own daytime program, “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson.”

The show covered politics, current affairs and social issues, with Carlson frequently discussing topics involving women’s rights and workplace equality.

During her time at Fox, Carlson also became notable for challenging some conventions of cable news presentation. She was among the prominent female television anchors to appear on air without makeup, drawing attention to the expectations placed on women in television.

Gretchen Carlson and Roger Ailes

Carlson’s career at Fox News ended in 2016 following a dispute with Roger Ailes, who was then chairman and chief executive of Fox News.

In July 2016, Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes, alleging that she had been subjected to sexual harassment and that her contract had not been renewed after she rejected his advances. Ailes denied the allegations.

The lawsuit quickly became one of the most significant controversies in the history of Fox News. After Carlson’s allegations became public, numerous other women came forward with accusations of sexual harassment against Ailes.

Ailes resigned from Fox News in July 2016. Carlson later reached a reported $20 million settlement with 21st Century Fox, accompanied by a public apology from the company.

The settlement became a major financial component of Carlson’s career earnings and contributed significantly to her overall wealth.

Role in the #MeToo Movement

Carlson’s lawsuit against Ailes became an important precursor to the broader #MeToo movement that gained international attention in 2017.

Following the settlement, she increasingly focused her career on workplace equality, women’s rights and efforts to combat sexual harassment.

Carlson worked with lawmakers and advocacy organizations on legislation designed to protect employees who experience sexual harassment. In 2017, she joined a bipartisan group of legislators in supporting the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act, which sought to give sexual-harassment victims greater ability to pursue claims in court.

She also established the Gretchen Carlson Leadership Initiative, which provides advocacy and leadership training to women who have historically had limited access to such opportunities.

Carlson has also been involved with Women Moving Millions, a philanthropic organization focused on advancing women and girls.

Books and Other Income

Carlson has supplemented her television income through book publishing and public speaking.

Her first book, “Getting Real,” was published in 2015. The memoir covers her upbringing in Minnesota, her violin career, her Miss America experience and her transition into television journalism.

In 2017, she released “Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back.” The book focused heavily on workplace harassment and her experiences at Fox News.

Carlson donated profits from “Be Fierce” to the Gift of Courage Fund, which supports efforts aimed at empowering women and addressing workplace harassment.

Her books, speaking engagements, advocacy work and media appearances have provided additional sources of income beyond her television career.

Personal Life

Carlson married sports agent Casey Close in October 1997. The couple has two children.

She has maintained a relatively private personal life since leaving Fox News and has devoted much of her public work to women’s rights, workplace equality and leadership initiatives.

Carlson’s experiences at Fox News have also been depicted in popular culture.

Her story was featured in the 2019 Showtime miniseries “The Loudest Voice,” in which she was portrayed by Naomi Watts. Her Fox News experience was also depicted in the 2019 film “Bombshell,” with Nicole Kidman playing Carlson.